Why You Can Trust CNET SRS iWOW Adapter for iPod review: SRS iWOW Adapter for iPod
SRS iWOW Adapter for iPod
If you've ever wanted a button on your iPod that works like the "Loud" button on your stereo, the folks at SRS Sound offer the iWOW, a $99 audio enhancer that kicks your iPod's audio up a notch. The iWOW measures 0.8 inch tall, 0.3 inch thick, and 2.25 inches across, and looks right at home plugged into an iPod Classic or an iPod Touch, but somewhat awkward plugged into an iPod Nano. The front of the iWOW is made of a matte black plastic, with an illuminated power button at its center, surrounded by a volume rocker switch. There's a headphone jack on the bottom of the iWOW and a standard iPod dock connection located on the top, which is compatible with most iPods made since 2005 (excluding the Shuffle and iPhone).
SRS iWOW Adapter for iPod
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
We're happy to see that the SRS iWOW gets all the power it needs directly from your iPod; however, it will put a small dent in your iPod's battery performance. Being iPod powered also means that you can't use the iWOW with other audio sources, such as your computer or a non-iPod MP3 player.
The iWOW's design is attractive and easy to use, but the all-plastic construction feels a little cheap considering the $99 price tag, and the unreinforced headphone jack doesn't inspire confidence.
Performance
Just like your stereo's "Loud" button, the SRS iWOW is a blunt instrument when it comes to audio enhancement. There are no EQ parameters to fudge with or presets to scroll through--just two settings: on and off. We're all for ease of use, but for an accessory aimed at people who are picky enough about audio to drop $99, the iWOW's all-or-nothing philosophy seems like the wrong way to go.
Your enjoyment of the iWOW's sonic enhancement is going to depend heavily on your choice of headphones and your taste in music. If you plan on using the iWOW with the stock earbuds that came with your iPod, we can say without reservation that your money is better spent on an upgraded pair of headphones (check out our list of best earbuds for less than $100).
We tested the SRS iWOW using a pair of Shure SE310 in-ear headphones and Ultrasone HFI-2200 circumaural headphones, and the results were mixed. Quieter music with ample dynamic headroom, such as folk, classical, jazz, and the more introspective end of indie rock (Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, The Shins), fared well under the iWOW treatment. For these genres, lower frequencies often sounded more present and defined, and background instrumentation (piano, rhythm guitar, horns) takes more of a front seat. The effect was dramatic on The Shin's "One By One All Day," where the vocal mix is almost drowned out by all the instruments iWOW pulls out of the background. The best case scenario was Bowie's "It Ain't Easy," where the iWOW infused the song with a little extra sparkle and drama.
Unfortunately, modern genres such as pop, dance, and hip-hop, often came through the iWOW a little overdriven. The opening synth bassline to Booka Shade's "Night Falls" sounded like it was being played through a blown-out subwoofer. Girl Talk's "Here's the Thing" came out sounding more mushy than mash-up, and pop songs that tended to sound a little overly compressed in their original form wound up losing what little dynamic range was left after going through the iWOW.
Though our impressions on the iWOW's sound are mixed, it's still a worthwhile tool if you're intent on pushing the iPod's sound to the limit. To hear for yourself, here's a clip of Brightblack Morning Light's "Black Feather Wishes Rise" played through an iPod Classic (second generation). The first half of the audio comes from the iPod's own headphone jack. The second half comes from the SRS iWOW. The iPod's own EQ is turned off for both recordings.
Listen: Download today's podcast